Standalone I-130s transferred to field office

[Berty 74]

I <3 my therapist. "Delay is not denial," she left on my answering machine. "Delay is not denial. Delay is not denial. You are legitimately married and you have what you need to prove it. DELAY IS NOT DENIAL."

My husband was going to be away for three months anyway because he was visiting on the VWP. The only thing that will change is whether he comes back home with or without a green card in hand. I can do this. We can do this. If we get a NOID then we'll just send in our stuff. It's going to be OK.

It's the only real way of looking at it; your marriage is clearly legitimate, you know this, and presumably RFE or not there is zero reason to suspect you're going to be denied. The wheels turn slowly but they do turn.

[blankmedia 41]

Folks, I just talked to a Tier 2 ISO rep at the USCIS about my pending standalone I-130 filed in the US.

As of August 15, standalone I-130s have been systematically transferred from service centers to field offices for adjudication as part of a workload transfer, per the USCIS website. This is the link to the pertinent page: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=c3c7ca7c5fed9310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e7801c2c9be44210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD The pertinent wording from that page is, "Stand-Alone Immediate Relative I-130s will be transferred from the Service Center to the National Benefits Center (NBC), and then routed to the appropriate Field Office."

My standalone I-130 was filed in October and transferred to a field office in November. I called to try to find out the status of my case, since it had been more than two months from the date the case was transferred. The ISO insisted that cases are normally transferred to field offices if they intend to call the petitioner in for an interview. I told him about the workload transfer page, and he still insisted I should expect to be interviewed. I asked him, just to be sure, if he saw any specific information in my file that led him to believe that I was going to be called in, and he said no, that cases were just usually transferred to field offices for interviews.

As far as I know, many members of this forum have had their standalone I-130 cases adjudicated and approved by field offices without any need for an interview. Is that correct? Do I need to prepare for an interview at my field office?

We filed the last day of August, transfered to NBC, then to the field office sometime in November I think. Received an RFE from the field office for a birth certificate, then it was approved a week later. I think it was approved in 91 days or so. I doubt you will have an interview.

[Kazulie 132]

The VISA interviews will happen in London AFTER the I-130 is approved and you have filed the rest of the visa paperwork.

It turns out that my I-130 was in fact sent to the field office for "additional processing". I'm really stressed out right now. I have no idea what that means or what they want. I scheduled an InfoPass appointment next Tuesday to find out.

I would put money on this being nothing to worry about. I know of a few cases just recently who were told they were put into "additional processing" and they never even were. And they were approved. No interview whatsoever.

Take it from me, a person who went through THREE I-130 interviews for each of my boys, you will know when you are really in additional processing. First, they let you sit at your service center for as long as everyone else. My first petition sat for 7 months (like everyone else who was being serviced at California at that time) and the second and third sat for 3 months on the dot (like everyone else who was being serviced at California at THAT time). Instead of being approved, like everyone else, my status said "we have transferred your case to a USCIS office" then when my cases actually got to Chicago, the status changed to "we have transferred your case to YOUR local USCIS office". I did a service request and within a few days got the letter stating that I was in additional review and that if I hadn't heard from them in 6 months that I could "feel free to contact them". It took 6 months of additional processing to get the first interview and it took 4 months ish to get the second and third interviews.

What I am saying is that you just filed a few months ago, if you were going to go into additional processing, they don't pull you out of line to hurry up and get you into additional processing so that your time goes by faster. No, no. They let you wait with everyone else, and when everyone else moves on to NVC, you get to move on to your local USCIS office and sit and wait ANOTHER 5 months or so.

Plus, I-130 interviews are mostly given when there is an issue with the immigrant's previous dealings with immigration. Since you seem completely shocked about this, I'm guessing you have no previous issues. Sit back and relax, in a week or so they will probably have no idea what you are talking about when you mention "additional processing" to them.

GOOD LUCK!

[speedwell 224]

Plus, I-130 interviews are mostly given when there is an issue with the immigrant's previous dealings with immigration. Since you seem completely shocked about this, I'm guessing you have no previous issues. Sit back and relax, in a week or so they will probably have no idea what you are talking about when you mention "additional processing" to them.

GOOD LUCK!

Thanks, Kazulie, I'm sure you're right. You made it possible for me to get work done today. I woke up with a panic attack. I'm better now. God, it's hard for people with anxiety disorders.

[bigdog 376]

:thumbs:

I'm trying your positivity approach.

:dance:The negative stuff will eat you up.

[hikergirl 277]

Thanks, Kazulie, I'm sure you're right. You made it possible for me to get work done today. I woke up with a panic attack. I'm better now. God, it's hard for people with anxiety disorders.

I think this process encourages anxiety. It certainly hasn’t helped me any.

It’s hard on us when one hand doesn’t seem to know what the other hand is doing.

Right now I am concentrating on Darnell’s sage advice and trying to get my daily exercise and eat healthy.

[Dumb/Dumber 61]

I would put money on this being nothing to worry about. I know of a few cases just recently who were told they were put into "additional processing" and they never even were. And they were approved. No interview whatsoever.

Take it from me, a person who went through THREE I-130 interviews for each of my boys, you will know when you are really in additional processing. First, they let you sit at your service center for as long as everyone else. My first petition sat for 7 months (like everyone else who was being serviced at California at that time) and the second and third sat for 3 months on the dot (like everyone else who was being serviced at California at THAT time). Instead of being approved, like everyone else, my status said "we have transferred your case to a USCIS office" then when my cases actually got to Chicago, the status changed to "we have transferred your case to YOUR local USCIS office". I did a service request and within a few days got the letter stating that I was in additional review and that if I hadn't heard from them in 6 months that I could "feel free to contact them". It took 6 months of additional processing to get the first interview and it took 4 months ish to get the second and third interviews.

What I am saying is that you just filed a few months ago, if you were going to go into additional processing, they don't pull you out of line to hurry up and get you into additional processing so that your time goes by faster. No, no. They let you wait with everyone else, and when everyone else moves on to NVC, you get to move on to your local USCIS office and sit and wait ANOTHER 5 months or so.

Plus, I-130 interviews are mostly given when there is an issue with the immigrant's previous dealings with immigration. Since you seem completely shocked about this, I'm guessing you have no previous issues. Sit back and relax, in a week or so they will probably have no idea what you are talking about when you mention "additional processing" to them.

GOOD LUCK!

I thought I posted a reply, but I will try again. We have an NOIR I-30 petition that was transferred to Field Office December 7, 2012. We have been waiting to be reaffirmed since January 12, 2012. This makes me think we have 5 or 6 more months to wait. Crazy

Edited January 24, 2013 by Dumb/Dumber

[Ms Hogan 295]

I don't think it is anything to worry about at all. I think it has just been passed to a local office for processing as so many others have. I was fortunate and mine stayed in NBC and was processed there so nothing got held up or confused anywhere.

BUT just to give some other evidence of one hand not knowing what the other is doing... we got a checklist from NVC, each of us (me and two kids):

1. Son #1 was told to bring actual pics to the embassy interview as they can't accept scanned photos (well duh, we know THAT but we're doing EP so no choice)

2. Mine said they were still waiting on my supporting docs even though they'd been received so "false" checklist.

3. Here is the good one Son #2 was told that the $ amount in section 25 doesn't match the $ amount on the most recent tax return. BUT IT DOES! And that isn't even my point. The point about the hands not talking to each other is that Son #2 had the exact same documents and Son #1 and myself yet somehow the paperwork wound up on a checklist!

Be as patient as you can be. Delay is not Denial! That is so right! Hang on to that thought! Everything WILL be OK when it is your turn.

So I say DON'T WAIT FOR THE STORM TO PASS... START DANCING IN THE RAIN!! YOUR TIME IS COMING SOON!